1: Tournament LiveDoc.  You can access the Tournament LiveDoc here.  In addition to lots of important day-of information, it contains extemporaneous speaking and impromptu round areas - make sure this gets distributed to your crew.  We will continue making a few minor updates throughout the week, but nothing that will have an impact on your preparation or arrival information or general tournament logistics; I will highlight any substantial changes we make to you (if any) in my Tuesday/Wednesday update.

 

2: Building Usage.  All Championship events will compete at Eastview High School.  All Open events will compete at Valley Middle School of STEM (this includes all Open Extemp. Speaking, a change we will continue from last year).  NOTE: double- and triple-entered entries must have all of their events in the same building...so, a student cannot be open in one event but championship in another.  I will be doing an entry and judge audit later this week, but please do check your registration to make sure there is no conflict.  You will need to make sure your entries are dropped off at their appropriate building on Saturday morning, but we will again offer shuttles to take students from Valley Middle School of STEM to Eastview High School at the conclusion of the tournament.

 

3: Awards.  In 2025, we will have a Unified Awards Ceremony at Eastview High School so that we can celebrate both divisions together.  Upon the conclusion of finals rounds at Valley Middle School, students should immediately load shuttle buses to return to Eastview for awards.  We will also continue to recognize honor finalists (and if applicable, merit and consolation finalists) in the competition room shortly after the round is complete.  Note that our Open tournament schedule has been slightly accelerated from previous years to accommodate this plan.  You will see the full schedule in the LiveDoc.

 

4: Drops/Adds/Changes.  Please, make known changes to your entry early and often.  The tournament will be closed to adds this Tuesday, February 18th at 12:00 p.m. so that we can begin finalizing plans; I can't make guarantees after that time, but coaches needing to add students (or change student events) can email me at zachary.prax@district196.org with requested adds or category changes and I'll do my best to oblige.  Drops can be made in Speechwire by coaches through the morning of the tournament, but entry fees are locked on Wednesday, February 19th at 5:00 p.m.  The sooner drops can be made (and corrections to incorrect entry placement can be discovered and corrected), the better. 

 

We look forward to hosting you next week!  More from me later, but please don't hesitate to contact me with questions in the meantime.

 

Zach Prax

Eastview High School